This month my youngest turns three and next month, my oldest turns five. I cannot believe how quickly my life has passed by since having children. I have fallen more and more in love with my children everyday, as I’m sure most of you all have with your own. I hate that my husband is missing this milestone in their life while he is deployed. We will be at the halfway point in July. Only five months left until he is home and our family is complete in time for Christmas!
Romance or Friendship…
The hotel had an intimate bistro located downstairs decorated in the same creams and blacks from the bedrooms. The walls were covered in black and cream pinstriped wallpaper with a black wainscoting for an elegant touch. There was a limited number of tables, each black with cream tablecloths, adorned with a small vase with a red rose. The roses were surrounded by three small candles that cast a delicate glow on the diner’s faces. To say it was a romantic atmosphere would be an understatement.
I spotted Jack easily. He was leaned up against the bar talking casually to the male bartender and holding a short glass of amber liquor. I started to walk toward him and halfway to him he looked up and met my gaze. His stare stopped me dead in my tracks. His eyes locked with mine in a way they never had before. There was passion burning the same shade of amber as the liquor in his glass. Was it the dress or me that has caused this stir in him?
I continued my walk towards him, and he began to strut towards me. My eyes fell to the floor the closer we got to one another. The intensity was making me anxious. This dinner is already feeling like a date, and a date is something I haven’t done in two years.
The intensity must have been too much for Jack as well, since he was obviously staring at the floor too. Otherwise we wouldn’t have just stumbled into one another in the middle of the bistro. I looked up into his eyes at once.
“Hi.” I breathed.
“Hi, yourself.” He said.
“Do you already have a table?” I couldn’t break his gaze now. It was as if his eyes were physically locked with mine.
“Uh, yeah. It’s over here.” Jack motioned to the right side of the room and led the way there.
I couldn’t help but notice the way the dark denim outlined his firm behind as he walked. What am I thinking about, this is Jack! I was becoming more exasperated by the second.
When we reached our table, Jack pulled out my chair and I sat down. I grabbed the napkin off the table and placed it over my dress.
Taking his seat, he said, “Would you like something to drink? I couldn’t pass up their bourbon.”
I returned his smile and agreed to have the same. The soft glow of the candles was accentuating the line of his jaw and the crinkles around his eyes when he smiled. I started picking at the fabric of my linen tablecloth.
“You’re awful quiet tonight Kate? Everything okay?” Jack asked.
“Just a little anxious. This trip has been overwhelming for me and we haven’t even begun, really.”
“You have got to learn to relax a little. Maybe the drink will help loosen you up some.” He said.
I clenched my thighs together at that remark and smiled shyly at him.
“You know what helps me relax?” I asked.
Jack placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward, resting his chin on his fists.
“What’s that, Kate?” He asked.
“Planning. Let’s scout out which museums and landmarks well be exploring tomorrow? Maybe we can discuss which lesson plans we want to start focusing on?” I said,
Jack dropped his elbows back into his lap and leaned back in his chair.
“That’s what makes you relax? We’re not at Sterling High anymore. Tell me what helps you relax when you aren’t Miss Reed?” Jack’s devilish dimples were on full display.
I had nearly picked a hole through that poor linen cloth in my lap. I stared down at my knotted hands for some type of answer that wouldn’t make me sound like the OCD prude my sister thinks I am. Just then the waiter appeared with my drink and a refill on Jack’s. Bless that man.
I picked up my drink and tipped it back slowly, drinking about a third of the short glass. I could feel the warmth from the liquor racing down my throat and throughout my veins. I felt the warmth down to my toes. After a little liquid encouragement, I answered him back.
“What helps me relax at home is a hot, steaming bath. I like to turn the lights down, light a few candles, and fill the tub bath oils that make the room smell heavenly and my skin feel so soft.”
Jack’s mouth fell open slightly and his stare turned the flush on my body up to a fever. He reached across the table and caressed my hand that was holding my drink. The sensation resonated deep within me. I crossed my legs to depress the ache between them and held his gaze. The candles flickering flames seemed to dance with the gold flecks in his dark eyes.
“You’re right, your skin is so soft.” Jack closed his eyes as if he was inhaling the bath oils on my body.
“Jack…” I breathed.
Suddenly, he pulled his hands back from mine and sat upright in his chair.
“Jack?”
“I’m so sorry, Kate. I don’t know what came over me. It must be the bourbon; I think its stronger here in France.” Jack looked down at his drink then and his dimples disappeared.
“It’s okay. Did you still want to get dinner, or just get it upstairs? Like, room service. But, in our own rooms!” I brought my left hand up to my forehead and waited for his reply with my eyes closed. I couldn’t even look at his after all the babbling I just did.
When he didn’t respond, I peeked up at him from under my palm and found him smirking into his drink. Our eyes met then fell away again quickly.
“I think I will just get room service tonight.” Jack said. “We can meet up for breakfast and figure out our plans for the day then.” He stood up from the table, downed the last of his drink, and nodded his goodbye before he walked away.
What was that? I downed he rest of my drink and had to gag a little at the burn on my throat and the tang left on my tongue. I guess I’ll be eating in my room tonight as well. I left a few euros on the table and headed off to my room for a long night of overthinking.
Ivy Smoak
Hasn’t everyone had a crush on their college professor? Well, in the case the professor has a crush on the student as well! One of my favorite series by, Ivy Smoak, is the Hunted Series. I’ve read this steamy series through twice already!
Temptation (The Hunted Series Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVG6LMI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_84J1NYHJK5BT4A8BYMZJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
T S Joyce
https://tsjoycewrites.wordpress.com/
I highly recommend this book series called the Saw Bears Series by T S Joyce. Especially, if you love supernatural romances! This is about a group of bear-shifters that live out in the woods and how, one by one, they find their mates for life. I’ve read three out of the series in just a couple of weeks and can’t wait to read the rest. Pictured below is the first in the series. This one is about Tagan and Brooke!
Check this out: Lumberjack Werebear (Saw Bears Series Book 1) by T. S. Joyce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TYV0WSG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_N1F0ERPC8WV7ZHYMT6C5
Romance is in the Paris air…
Twenty laughter filled hours later, we landed in Paris, France. Finding our luggage and making it through customs was almost all the adventure I could handle for the day, until we walked out of the airport and I looked out at the astounding country I was in.
The warm Paris air was filled with a faint floral scent from the blossoming rose bushes that lined the airport entrance behind me. The wind seemed to flirt with my hair, as its fingers playfully danced through each strand. The city was already seducing me, living up to its’ reputation as the city of romance.
“Let’s wave down a taxi so we can get checked into our hotel.” Jack said.
“Just like in the movies! Can I be the one to do it?” He was smiling at my eagerness.
“You’ve really never ridden in a taxi before?” He asked.
“You know Mount Sterling doesn’t have cabs; we don’t even have a public bus.” I said.
“I’m, sorry Kate. I keep forgetting you haven’t been outside of Kentucky. You know I took a few years off after high school to backpack across Europe with my older brother.” He said.
“You know how I’ve always been a planner, right? I knew by tenth grade I was going to teach high school, and something like taking time off for travel, would have delayed my plan. If this opportunity didn’t present itself, I don’t know if I ever would have done something like this, to be honest.” I said.
“Really? You don’t think you would have travelled abroad on your own time? I am so grateful for the years I got to tag along with my brother on his photography expeditions. We went to places that weren’t on the tourist pamphlets and I loved every minute of.” He said.
“Jack, I don’t even think I would have come on a trip like this if you weren’t the one going with me.” I looked down immediately after saying that. I felt a rush of warmth race through my system and my palms began to sweat. I couldn’t believe I just said that. But it was even more of a shock to realize it was true.
“Wow, Kate. I don’t know what to say,” Jack was staring down at the concrete and rocking back on his heels. “I’m happy to be here with you too.” He said a few moments.
I looked up into his eyes then. The chocolate pools of his eyes were brimming with sincerity. I noticed a few flecks on gold in the right iris as I stared back with the same intensity. My cheeks were blushing, I could feel the warmth filling them, along with a swarm of butterflies filling the inside of my stomach.
“HONK!” A taxicab pulled alongside the curb in front of us then.
“You all need a taxi?” The Frenchmen asked us through the rolled down window of the cab.
We dropped out gaze abruptly, startled by his arrival. The luggage at our feet and the confusion on our faces must have tipped the taximan off. Our confusion had more to do with our emotions at this point, but that’s not what he saw, I’m sure.
“We sure do, merci.” That was the extent of my French so far.
The taxi driver stepped out and helped Jack load our luggage into the back of the cab. Jack slipped a few euros in his hand and we settled into the backseat. It was a short drive, but a long stretch of silence as we both sat deep in thought.
I was thinking about my sister’s advice increasingly, and never felt more grateful that I packed a boob shirt and a thong.
As of right now, and for the next several months, my husband, Levi, is deployed to Romania. We have two small children, Charlotte and Levi. We spend our days shuffling between school, swim lessons, and my day job as a dental hygienist. In my spare time I enjoy creating romance novels for women to read. Growing up, I was always called a hopeless romantic and now I utilize that attribute to my advantage by writing memorable, inviting characters that my readers will fall in love with.
Seeing Jack in a new light…
“It was seven 7:45 a.m. and I was standing at our flight’s gate, with my carryon by my feet, looking for Jack. The airport was bustling with a variety of people, all scurrying toward something. There were families with kids in strollers and babies strapped to their daddy’s back making their way to the food court. There were couples embracing each other as if they hadn’t seen each other in forever. Both scenes made me a little emotional. Then there I was, alone, and thinking about Jack saying he’d see me at 9 a.m., when I told him 8 a.m. I know he was probably teasing me, but I was just so overwhelmed, and could really use some of Jack’s easy-going attitude to soothe my nerves. He was always so light-hearted about everything that seemed to stress me to the breaking point. My sister’s teasing remarks were gnawing at me as well. I kept thinking about her advice about being sexier and how I may attract more male attention, specifically, Jack’s. I don’t know why, but I never suspected Jack could see me in a romantic way. Is that my fault for not seeming more wanting of a romantic relationship? Do I even feel that way about him myself? Between these conflicting emotions and the time ticking down, I felt like an absolute wreck, and it was only seven 7:55 a.m.
After shuffling through my hectic emotions, I realized Jack was making his way toward me. His untamable mane was blowing back as he walked briskly toward our gate. He had on a hiker backpack, which must be his carryon, a relaxed grey t-shirt with brown denim pants, and loafers. For maybe the first time, I allowed my gaze to drift down his frame and notice more than his clothing. Jack had a broad, masculine set to his chest and shoulders that led down to a narrow waist and hip. He was tall, around six foot, with a slightly bow-legged strut that was sexy, I had to admit. I felt my stomach flutter when his eyes caught mine in the crowd. He smiled that knowing smile and I smiled back automatically, letting out a huge breath I didn’t realize I was holding until I seen him.
“Why are we here so early again?” Jack asked me when he got a look at the time one the monitor behind me. I noticed Jack was staring all around the terminal and rocking back on his heels a lot. Had he noticed me checking him out before? I hope I wasn’t blushing.
Kate Rhett, Author 